By
Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams didn't miss a beat when he was back on the field for the first time in three months after recovering from a neck injury.
The quicksilver scrumhalf was one of the stand-out players in the Boks' emphatic 45-0 victory against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday in their second Castle Lager Incoming Series Test.
A new-look Bok team were in fine form, scoring seven tries and holding Italy scoreless, despite losing No. 8 Jasper Wiese with a red card in the 22nd minute. Early in the second half, they were reduced to 13 men when Wilco Louw was yellow-carded in the 44th minute.
The win followed on a 54-7 victory against the Barbarians in Cape Town and a 42-24 victory against Italy in Pretoria on 5 July.
The match was not only significant for new Springbok centurion Willie le Roux and the three debutants - Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, and Ethan Hooker - but also for Williams who made a strong statement in his first game back from a long injury layoff.
Commenting on his comeback, Williams quipped: "I wish I could have played for the Sharks first. There was a bit of nerves this week after a frustrating three months, but I'm happy we got the win and personally, to be able to play again. There was obviously a little rust, but I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks."
However, the nippy scrumhalf admitted that the nerves wore off after touching down for the first try of the match in the eighth minute: "I think I was calm after that. It was great to score a try, even though it was Willie's try that I took. My mindset last week was all about getting on the field and ensuring that I nail I the detail, but I'm happy for the team and about the result."
Asked what made his halfback combination with flyhalf Manie Libbok seem so seamless and natural, Williams said he enjoyed playing with all the flyhalves in the squad.
"It's not just like that with Manie," said Williams. "It's the same with Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Handre (Pollard), Manie and Damian (Willemse). There's a plan for every game, and this week the strategy was to try a few things, and it worked.
"It's always special to play with Manie. We have a great relationship, but at the same time, it doesn't matter who I play alongside."
Responding to how much of a challenge the red card was to the team, Williams was casual in his response: "It's always difficult to get a red card, but if you know coach Rassie (Erasmus), there's always a plan, so we were well prepared for a card, which happened to be the case in the match."
The Springboks made the trip from Gqeberha to Nelspruit via Johannesburg on Sunday and will return to the training field on Monday to begin their preparations for the closing match of the series against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
